The Hastings Standard Published Daily. TUESDAY, NOV. 10, 1896. THE LIBERAL PROGRAMME.

Hastings Standard, Issue 167, 10 November 1896, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

TUESDAY, NOV. 10, 1896. THE LIBERAL PROGRAMME.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

The Premier in his speech at Halcombe on the 3rd inst partly unfolded the programme of the party which acknowledges him as its chief. It is a platform of rare strength, capable of withstanding all the attacks of the opponents of the Government. The oftrepeated assertion that the freehold tenure was in danger of being wiped out he exploded with the simple statement that the freehold was secure, for the people would rise in rebellion against any party attempting to interfere with it. An unvarnished statement, full of body and full of truth, it ought to settle the vapourings of the land- Nationalists and the squeamy insinuations of the Conservatives. The freehold is in no danger, was never in danger, and is not likely to be tampered with. Besides the Lands for Settlement JAct, which is a monument of glory for the present Government, is quite sufficient to accomplish the* ends of the Liberal party. One of the chief aims of Mr Seddon and his colleagues is to settle the people on the land, and with the Lands for Settlement Act this policy of settlement is being steadily pursued ; and successfully, also, as several of the so ttled lands proclaim. To this sound, Democratic measure we owe the purcba&e of the \\ oburn estate,

which is uow available for close settlement. We shall be able to appreciate the true and lasting benefit conferred on the community when we see this immense sheep-walk cut up and occupied by a number of settlers. Sheep must make way for man; the ring-fence of Conservatism and landgrabbing must yield to Liberalism and village homesteads. The ear-piercing cry about increasing the land tax, to which we have been treated by Tory speakers and Tory journals, is after all merely a cry. The land tax exemptions are not to be altered, and the small settler is not to be taxed. That is the declaration of Mr fceddon, and surely the public statement of a public man will be accepted. There is every reason to believe that no additional taxation will be imposed, simply because it is not likely to be needed. The country is rapidly emerging from the industrial depression of a few years back. Business is better, trade is brisker, the prices of produce have been better, and give promise of continuing to return a fair margin of profit. Our farmers are supplied with cheap money, labor finds more regular employment, and tho ellect of all this is to be seen in the increased Customs revenue, which, in spite of the statements to the contrary, has increased on the articles of import which were practically undisturbed by the tariff changes of last year. The people are better able to meet the demands of the tax gatherer to-day than they were three or six years ago. Mr Seddon promises more labor legislation, and the working classes will note the fact. The labor legislation of the past few years has proved beneficial, and if wo may judge the future by the past, the legislation promised cannot be detrimental to the masses.

But we haveno need to go through the details of the Seddonian policy, for the Premier will tell us this evening in his own vigorous style what the l'arty associated with hiui has accomplished and what it intends to do. It shows the characteristics of the man that he does not hesitate to advance into the very heart, as it were, of the enemy's country, to meet his opponents and bring them under the lire of his very powerful artillery. It goes without saying that Mr Seddon will have a bumper house, that he will receive a patient hearing, and that he will make such an impression on the electors as will greatly increase the chances of the Government candidate for the Hawke's Bay seat.